Mobile unit with foreign body



g- 1944- E. R. GOLDFIELD ETAL 2,355,066

MOBILE UNIT WITH FOREIGN BODY LOCALIZEP.

Filed April 2 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet l L' I 1576 49 88 49k I 36 l48b 87 5 4| 4| 121 90 I576 -157 '49 IOO - INVENTORS EDWIN R. GOLDFIELD RALPH c. SCHIRING 8.

BY ROBERT'J.STAVA I Aug. 8, 1944. E. R. GOLDFIELD ET AL 2,355,066

I MOBILE UNIT WITH FOREIGN BODY LOCALIZER Filed A rii 2, 1941 7 Sheets-Shet 2 76 76AB4 83A I FlG.-3A

Fla-3 -lIiilI:I-7 Ilcll:

BY ROBERT J. STAVA Aug. 8, 1944. E. R. GOLDFIE LD ET AL 2,355,066

I MOBILE UNIT WITH FOREIGN BODY LOCALIZER Filed April 2 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 b c c F m w lfl I K n BCE O Y n1 J6 8 9 I m H m x M M M M M I b. m m h m .1 4 Fr 56% wws 1 Kay 4 3 3 &

D A LGN REN s mwm M HJ mm m v T w A mRm Aug. 8, 1944. E. R. GOLDFIELD ETAL 2,355,066

I MOBILE UNIT WITH FOREIGN BODY LOCALIZER v I Filed April 2 194]. 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IZO INVENTORS EDWIN R. GOLDFIELD RALPH C. SCHIRING & BY ROBERT J. STAVA Aug. 8, 1944. E. R. GOLDFIELD ETAI.

MOBILE UNIT WI TH FOREIGN BODY LOCALIZER Filed April 2 1941- 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG-20 INVENTORS EDWIN R. GOLDFIELD RALPH C. SCHIRING & BY ROBERT J. STAVA M Wm ATTORNEYS .Aug. 8, 1944. v E. R.GOLDF|ELD ETIYAL I 2,355,066.

MOBILE UNIT WITHFOREIGN BODY LOCALIZER Filed April 2 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet v I I x 437 49 137 z y I.

FIG-'24 I41 14m FIG-30 INVENTORS EDWIN R. GOLDFIELD RALPH C.SCHIRING 8. BY ROBE RT J. STAVA flu 7%? ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE MOBILE UNIT WITH FOREIGN Bony.-

. LOCALIZER a Edwin It. Goldfield, University Heights, Ralph C. Schiring, Cleveland, and-Robert J, Stava, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Picker X-Ray Corporation, Waite Manufacturing Division, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 2, 1941, Serial No; 385,390

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in X-ray apparatus and particularly to improvements in a mobile unit adapted to be moved about on a supporting surface and useful for both horizontal and-vertical fluoroscopy and for horizontal radiography. Our invention also center--- plates the incorporation in this unit. if desired, of equipment for localizing foreign bodies that is to say, for determining the position of a foreign body in a patient. I

Our invention also contemplates the construction and arrangement of the parts of the mobile unit and the construction whereby the different parts may be disassembled and packed into a small space so that the device is capable of use as a field unit by the army with a maximum of usefulness and requiring the minimum of space.

Other objects and. advantages of the present invention will appear from the accompanying description and drawings and the essential fea tures will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of our improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental top plan view of a portion of the fluoroscopic screen taken in substantially the position of the line Z2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational. view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3A is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line 3A3A of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a base floor or track along which the apparatus may be moved;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the apparatus of Fi 3;

Fig. '7 is an exploded view of a portion of the foreign body localizer attachment of Figs. 1

and 3;

Fig. 8 is a view of a cross arm in a position disassembled from its associated parts of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8A is a top plan view of the cross arm of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a view of the folding draw bolts which secure the vertical mast sections together;

Fig. 10 is a view of an end plate associated with the cross arm of Figs. 8 and 8A;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lower section of the vertical mast;

Fig. 12 is atransverse sectional view taken along the line l2-i2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line l3i 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l i is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line 'l4l4 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 15 is atop plan view of the base carriage taken approximately from the position of the line I5-I5of,Fig.6;

Fig; 16 is aifragmental vertical sectional view through the tube and screen supporting bracket of Fig. 1; Q

Fig. 17 is afse'ctional view taken along the line ll-l'| ofFig.16; 1'

Fig. 18is' an enlarged top plan View of the dial at the upper end of Fig. 7;

Fig. 19 is a centrally located vertical sectional view through a portion of the foreignbody localizer attachment shown at the right of the carriage in Fig. 1 and shown in elevational view in Fig.7.; v

Fig. 20 is'a sectional view through the skin locator pad which is shown in plan in Fig. 2 and in elevation in Fig. 1;

Figs. 21, 22 and 23 are diagrammatic views illustrating the use of the foreign body localizer; Figs. 24, 25 and 26 are diagrammatic views illustrating another mannerof using our equipment as a foreign body localizer;

Fig. 27 is a View of'a portionof the vertical mast illustrating the positioning of a scale for use as described in connection with Figs. 25 and 26;

Fig. 28 is a view showing a stop member limitin lateral movement of the cross arm 41 and is a fragmental topplan view looking downwardly upon the leftend of the cross arm 41 as shown in Fig. 8A when the arm is assembled in the carriage 46 with the end plate of Fig. 10 in assembledpos'itiom' N I, v

Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken along the line 23-29 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 30 me sectional view taken along the line 3lJ-30 of Fig. 19.

The mobile unit here disclosed may be provided with the track of Figs. 4 and 5 where the unit is to be used in the field where a separate floor or track must be provided. It is useful however without such extra track, in which case the unit may be moved about on the floor of a hospital or other room and such use of the unit is contemplated. The unit therefore is mounted upon a base carriage 25 which as shown in the various views is built up ofsheet metal parts pref erably welded together to give a generally rectangular carriage supported at one end by the two swiveling casters 26 and at the other end by the two wheels 21 which are supported upon .the base carriage.

' on ballgbearings and the casters preferably also have ball bearing mountings. Preferably means is provided for fixing the casters in position so that the wheels 26 are parallel to the wheels 21 to insure movement of carriage 25 in a straight line when that is desired. To this end each fork 28 is provided with a notch 28a into which.

a bolt 30 may be inserted when desired to' fix the casters against turning. Thisbolt 30 has threaded engagement at 3| with'a portion of the carriage 25 and extends above the top of the carriage where the bolt has a knurled end 30a for its manipulation.

The carriage is provided with a square 'Well .32 into which fits thebottom of a transformer case 33. This case houses the usual high tension transformer adaptedjtoreceive current at sixty cycles and low voltage from any field generator equipment when used under army fieldconditions or from any other suitablesource when used under hospital conditions. "The transformer of course will step up thecurrent to the high voltage requirements for X-ray'work. The transformer casing is preferably provided with a handle 34 on each side so that it may be more easily lifted. In the upper portion ofthe transformer casing is arecess 35 adapted to receive the lower end 36a of the control .box 36. This box houses any. usual standard control circuits for X-ray equipment including control knobs 31 and meters 38 so that the equipment may be set for the proer operating conditions asiswell understood in this art. The control'box is preferably provided with a handle 39 on eachside for its manipulation. Suitable connections (not shown) are provided at the rear bottom portion, that is tosay, the right-hand side of the control box as viewed vin Fig. 6, for the attachment of the supply wires from the generator set or other source of current and for theattachment of a hand timer if desired, a foot controlswitch and other auxiliary equipment. Also a connection (not shown) is provided between thecontrol circuits in box 36 and thetransformer inthe casing 33. All; connections of separable wire connections differ in size, shape or arrangement so that proper connections; are 'always assured.

V Shockproof cables 4|] are connected between th upper rear portion of the transformer in casing 33 and the I X-ray tube to be later .described- The disassembled position of the base carriage, the transformer casing andthe control box is shown in Fig. 6 and the assembled position .of these parts is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As best viewed in Figs.

1 and 3, these parts are held in assembled relationship by means of retaining rods- 4|, one at each side of the unit, attached between the handle 39 at the top and a suitable opening 42 in Each rod has an over-center toggle securingdevice 4|a so as to hold the parts firmlyin position. .When the unit is disassembled 'forpacking in the field kit each of the .rods'isfastened to the top of the base carriage,

oneon each side thereof, between the points 43 and 44 shown in Fig.15.

,A verticalmast 45 is provided at one end of the base carriage. upon whichis mounted a vertically movable arm supporting carriage 46. This car- Cfl bracket 48 which carries the fluoroscopic screen 49 and the X-ray tube 50. The mast 45 is mounted for rotation in a well casting 5| (Figs. 11 and 15) which is secured by bolts 52 to the base carriage 25. For purposes of disassembling and packing the mast, it is built in a'plurality of separable tubular sections. The upper section comprises a pair of parallel tubes 53 tied together at the top by tie bars 54. The middle section is compo'sed'of the separate tubular members 55 and 56 and the bottom section is composed of parallel tubular members 51 tied toriage 4B in turn supports the horizontal cross arm 41 upon the end of which is mounted a C- gether at the lower end by tie bars 58 and intermediate the ends mounted in a bearing disk 59. The left-hand tubes 53, 55 and 51 of Fig. 6 have secured rigidly to one side thereof rack members 60 which coact with mechanism in the cross arm supporting carriage 46 for the raising and lowering of that carriage. These rack members are very carefully located on their respective tubes so that when the mast is assembled the rack members are in accurate alinement. The separable connections between the various tubular members of themast comprise sleeve projections 55a and 56a accurately finished with very small tolerances to fit in the respective coacting lower ends of the tubular members 53. Positioning means comprises the small pinsv 55b and 551), respectively, which enter into notches 53a when the parts are assembled. In a similar fashion the sleeve projections 5'la on the lower mast section fit into the lower ends of the tubes 55 and 56. The mast is held together as a whole by means of folding draw bolts 6| best illustrated in Fig. 9. Each of these bolts carries a .Wing nut 6|a at theupper end and a centering washer BID. The lower section of the bolt is threaded as at Blc and carries a guide extension 6|d. It will be noted from Fig. 11 that each of the tubular members 51 is provided with a centrally located threaded portion 62 located in a cup-shape depression below the sleeve projection 57a. When the bolt BI is extended downwardly through the hollow tubular mast sections the cup-shape recess guides the end Bld of the bolt into the threaded opening 62, after which turning of the nut 6| a causes the thread 6|c to engage the threads at 62 so as to tightly draw the mast sections together. Each bolt BI is provided with a foldable joint as at Ble so that the bolts may be packed in the field kit. The length of the upper, central and lower sections of the mast when disassembled as shown in Fig. 6 are of approximately the same length as the longer dimension of the base carriage 25 so that these parts will all fit inthe same chest.

The details of the mounting of the mast 45 in the base casting 5| are best seen in Figs. 11 and 12. This base casting has an annular perpendicular bearing surface at 5|a adapted to coact with the corresponding annular surface 59a of the disk 59. One of the tubular sections 51 carries a bearing roller 63 on a shaft 64 which extends through the tube and is secured by a nut 65. The roller 63 is so positioned'that it bears upon the upper horizontal annular face 5|b of the casting 5|. Preferably this casting has slightly milled out hollow spots 66 located at four points apart so that the mast may be more or less definitely located in each of four oriented positions with the cross arm 41 extending either forward or rearward parallel to the longer dimension of the base carriage 25 or in position extending laterally to either side of the carriage 25, It will be noted that the roller 63 is on that side of the mast beyond which the arm 41 extends to support the weight of the bracket 48, the screen 49 and the tube 50. This considerable weight at one side of the carriage would not be firmly supported in the absence of the roller 63 and it would be difficult to rotate the mast and its supporting weight without the bearing roller. To steady the mast for true rotative movement, the bottom tie bars 58 are provided with a centrally located opening into which en'- ters a stud 61 which as shown in Fig. ll is bolted to the central bottom portion of the casting I.'

The positions of the bearing surfaces on the disk 59 are accurately located with reference to the stud 61 and all of the coacting bearing surfaces including the central aperture in the bars 58 are held to very small tolerances so that the mast is very firmly supported in erected position.

For holding the mast in assembled position within the base casting 5|, a latch 68 is slidably supported beneath the disk 59 in a bracket :69. A spring urges the latch radially outwardly. Through a slot 591) in the disk 59 extends apin orhandle 1| by which the latch may be manipulated. The nose of the latch is adapted to enter into an annular groove 5Ic in the inner wall of the casting 5| near the top thereof when the mast is assembled in the base.

Means is provided for moving the cross arm supporting carriage 46 vertically along the mast 45 and for holding this carriage in any position to which it is moved. This means comprises a gear 12 indicated in Fig. 6 which engages ,the rack member 68 and which in turn is operated by a pinion 13 which in turn is operated by a removable crank which may be inserted from either side of carriage 46 at point 14. In connection with the gear mechanism 12, 13 we provide the clutch mechanism disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2.123.528 granted July 12. 1938, to Edwin R. Goldfield and Caperton B. Horsley. As clearly described in the said patent the crank handle may be rotated freely to move the carriage 46 up and down but when manipulation of the crank handle ceases the built in clutch mechanism automatically locks the carriage in the position to which it has been moved.

The horizontal cross arm 41 comprises a pair of parallel tubular members rigidly connected together at one end by the tie bar 15 and the disk 16. This cross arm is supported on suitable rollers in the carriage 46 so that the arm is freely slidable in a horizontal direction. The cross arm 41 when disassembled as shown in Figs. 8 and 8A is of approximately the same length as the longer dimension of carriage or the various sections of the mast so as to fit in the same chest with those parts. The ends of the tubular portions of the cross arm 41 opposite the tie bar 15 are normally rigidly connected together by means of an end plate assembly best seen in Fig. 10. This comprises two bars 11 and 18 pivotally connected together at 19. In the bar 11 are two openings 1a adapted to pass over the button projections 41a on the ends of the tubular members of the cross arm 41. The arms 18 have slotted openings 18a adapted to swing into position embracing the neck portions 41b which support the buttons 41a so as to secure the end plate assembly on the two tubular members of the cross arm 41. Extruded spots 80 on the arms 11 and 18 interengage with snap action to hold the end plate assembly in assembled position until the same is forcibly removed. It will be understood that with the end plate assembly removed the cross arm 41 is readily inserted through the carriage 46 after which the end plate assembly is securedpreventing extreme movement of cross arm 41' Obviously toward the right as viewed in Fi 1. in this position of the parts the bracket 48 with the screen 49 and tube 50 provide a heavy load far out to one side of the carriage 25 and it is undesirable to extend the parts in this manner unless absolutely necessary. To guard against such extreme positioning of the parts, except where absolutely necessary, the stop member I13 of Fig. 28 may be provided. In the form here shown this stop member comprises a closed wire loop passing through a suitable opening in the shank of the securing stud 19. The flat spring 19a lying between the head of the stud 19 and the plate 18 of the end plate assembly serves the double purpose of holding the parts of the end plate assembly in the desired position while at the same time urging the wireloop I13 toward the left as viewed inFig. 28. The wire loop is flattened at the side I14 where it rests against plate 11 and it results from this construction that the loop I13 is normally returned by spring pressure to a horizontal position so that it engages against carriage 46 at the point I15 'and revents extreme movement of cross arm 41 towardthe right. However if full'movement of cross arm 41 toward the right is desired then the wire loop I 13 may be bent downwardly or upwardly out of the way. Under these conditions the operator is on guard against possible overbalancing of the carriage 25.

The bracket 48 is removably mounted on the outer end of the cross arm 41 for rotation relative thereto. This construction is best seen in Figs. 1 and 3A. The cross arm 41 has a nose 41c extending beyond the disk 16 which enters a suitable bossed opening in thebracket 48. Preferably the opening is provided with a plain bearing 8I which embrace the nose 41c. Rigidly mounted on the noze and slightly spaced from the disk 16 is a truncated cone disk 82. Mounted on the bracket 48 is a stamping 83 having an arm 83a which is loosely bolted to the bracket. The stamping has a beveled nose 831) which engages behind the cone surface of the disk 82 so as to hold the bracket 48 rotatably on the nose 41c and to act additionally as a friction lock if desired. .A wing nut 84 controls the position of the stamping 83. The disk 16 is provided with suitable notches 160, into which a locking dog 85 is adapted to enter. This dog is spring pressed toward engaging position and is mounted in a suitable guide 86 on the bracket 48. The dog is controlled by the handle 81. Preferably the outer face of the disk 16, that is, on the right-hand side as viewed in Fig. l, is pro vided with a marking dial graduated in degrees so that the operator can determine the position of the main portion of bracket 48 relative to the horizontal or vertical when adjusting the position of bracket 48 rotatably about the nose 410.

The mounting of the screen and X-ray tube on the bracket 48 and the mounting of this bracket on the cross arm 41 preferably follows the teaching of Patent No. 2,097,095 granted October 26, 1937, to Edwin R. Goldfield, Caperton B. Horsley and Ralph C. Schiring. Reference may be had to this patent for further description if neces sary.

The fluoroscopic screen 49 is provided with a bracket 88 by which the screen is pivotally mounted-ati 95 on 'thebracket 48. This connection comprises a sleeve 89 on the bracket 88 which is clamped to a separable nose or projection by means of the wing nut 90 so that the parts may be. disassembled at thispoint. The sleeve 89 may be clamped in position to hold the fluoroscopic screen horizontal when desired by means of a pin-89a which extends through sleeve 89, member 04,- and bracketarm 48a of bracket 48, as best'seen in Figs. 1 and 16. This is the position of the screen ior foreign body localization. A latch 88 pivotally mounted on the frame of screen 49- may be hooked over a pin on bracket 88 to prevent tilting of the-screen about pivot 49a.

-;-The X-ray tube 50 is of standard construction andis removably secured at the point 9| to an arm of the bracket 48 We connection which is in all respects similar to that shown in Fig. 3A and the parts have the same dimensions so that if desired the bracket 48 may be removed from the nose 41c and the X-ray tube 50 may be directly mounted on the nose 410 in rotatable fashion.

When 'the screen 49 is used for horizontal fluoroscopy as shown in'Fig. '1, it is desirable to counterbalance the weight of the screen so that-it will-remain in the desired position. This counterbalance is shown in Fig. 16 and incorporates the structure more fully disclosed and claimedin Patent No. 2,179,357 granted N ovcmber 7.1939, to Robert J JStava. Briefly the spring 92 is attachedto a yoke 93 which is adapted in one position of the parts to engage the hook 94a of a member 94 which is pivotally mounted in the bracket 48 at the point 95. A lever 98 controls the connection and disconnection of the yoke 93 with the hook 94a I We have shown as incorporated in our appara tus a-pair of diaphragm shutters in the housing 91 carried by the arm 98 which is pivotally mounted at 99 on the bracket 48 so that the shutters may be moved approximately 90 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 by rotating the arm 98 about the pivot 99. I

When it is desired to' thus move these shutters out of the way the radiation cone I 80 may be removed from the housing 91. The arrangement and control ofthe shutters is more clearly seen in Figs. 16 and 17. A pair of oppositely movable shutters IOI are controlled by rod I02 and a sec.- ond pair of shutters I03 are movable at right angles to the shutters IOI by the rod I04. Shutters IOI are controlled by levers I05 and I08 which are pivoted to the housing 91 at the points I01 and 5 I08 respectively. Link I09 (Fig; 16) is pivotally connected between the ends of levers I 05 and I05 and a second link IIO connects the opposite ends of levers I05 and I06. Directly above link I09 is a member I09a which is rigidl connected to the left-hand shutter IOI, Fig. 17, but free of connection with the right-hand shutter. Directly above link H is a member IIfla which is rigidly connected to the right-hand shutter IOI, Fig. 1'1, but free of connectionto the left-hand member. These members IBM and I I0a together with their associated links form upper and lower guides for movement of the shutters. The rod I04 is pivotally connected at III with a yoke I I2 which is connected with lever I I3 which in turn is pivotally mounted in housing 91 at the point II4. At the opposite side of the housing a leverl I is pivotally mounted in the housing at I I5. Links H1 and H8 connect the oposite ends of levers II 3 and H5. Guide member II1a, overlying link v I I1,

bracket 48.

is rigidly connected to the lower'shutter I03, Fig.

17,1andfree of connection to the upper shutter. Member 811. overlying link I I8 is rigidly connected to the upper shutter I03, Fig. 17, and free of connection with the lower shutter; The members I", la, H8 and II8a also serve as guides for the back and forth movement of the shutters. Each of the rods I02 and I04 extend through one of the tubularbranches of the arm 98 and each is connected to abell crank I I9 which is connected by a link I20 with one of the levers I2I which in turn are pivotally mounted at I22 in the By manipulation of the two. levers I2I' the positionof the shutters is controlled by the operator. The dot-dash position of the shutters in Fig.- 17-represents the-closed positionandthe full line view is the open position.

The high tension cables '40 as previously mentioned are connected between the transformer 33 and the X-ray tube 50. The excess length of these cables is supported in two cable supports I23 mounted on opposite sides of the cable support slide I24 which is movable up and down the mast 45. A spring catch on the slide I 24 engages the 'rack 60so asto hold the cable supports in any adjusted position. This construction is best seen in Fig. 29 wherein the dog I16 is rigidly secured to an arm I11 which is loosely mounted in the cable support slide. I24 so that the dog engages the rack 60. A-spring I18 on a pin I19 yieldingly urges the dog into engagement with the rack. The end of arm I11 overlies a portion of carriage 46 so that as the carriage is cranked upwardly the dog I10 is automatically released and the, cable support slide I24 moves up the mast 45 in advance of carriage 46.

. The base carriage 25 as previously mentioned may be provided with a track I25 (Figs. 4 and 5) when some separate additional surface is necessary to support the carriage or when the unit is used as a foreign bodylocalizer. This track is preferably providedin a plurality of sections, the dimensions of which permit them to be placed in the same sized chest which accommodates the carriage 25, the, various sections of themast and other .parts previously described. In other words the longer dimension of each of the sections I25a, I25b and I25c is approximately the same as the longer dimension of the carriage 25 and the width is not any greater than that of the carriage. Along one side of the track sections' is, secured a fiat, plain track surface I26. Along the opposite sides of the sections runs a flange track I21. These tracks may slope downwardly toward the ,floor at the points [26a and I21iz so as to facilitate the movement of the carriage 25 on and off the track. It will be understood that the track sections are secured to their respective floor sections and are broken at approximately the same points although the breaks in the track proper and the supporting base may be slightly overlapped if desired. Along the outside of track I 21 are secured sections of a rack I28 which is adapted to coact with the foreign body localizer in a manner later described. Preferably as shown in Fig. 5, the base track sections I25 have turned down flanged edges as at I25d so that th'egen'eral shape of the base track'sections is of channel form providing space underneath. 'In this space are slidably mounted channel-shape connecting members I29 which are slidably retained beneath one or the other of the sections I25a, b, 0, when theparts are packed in the field kit, but which may be pulled out to extend in connecting position, one set between the sections I250. and I25b and the. other set between the sections I25b and I25c. These slidable connectors are held in position by spring pressed pins I30, the spring arms of which are riveted to the base track sections at the points I3I. The supports for connecting members I29 comprise upwardly facing channel members I29a secured to the under surface of the track sections and embracing the members I29. Preferably another upwardly facing channel member I291) is secured along the center of each track section so that the edge flanges I25ri and the channel members I290, and I29b present a fairly large surface to mud or soft ground upon which the equipment may rest in the field. Obviously also the members I29a protect the connecting members I29 from dirt and the like.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus shown thus far will be readily understood. With the apparatus completely assembled, a foot control switch (not shown) may be connected into suitable plugs in the control box 36 and a hand timer may be connected there also if desired. With main line current then connected to the generator as previously mentioned, the equipment is ready for use. With the parts in the full line position of Figs. 1 and 3, the device may be used for horizontal fiuoroscopy. With the bracket 48 rotated 90 from the full line position of Fig. 3 and raised by means of carriage 46 to the dot-dash position of Fig. 3, the equipment may be used for vertical iluoroscopy. In this position ofthe parts it will be noted that the screen 49 is directly in front of an operator standing alongside of the control box 36 with I the control knobs 31 and the meters 38 directly at the left-hand of the operator so that he may readily control the equipment with his left hand while manipulating the screen and other equipment with his right hand. With the parts in the position of Fig. 1 it will be noted that the lower offset arm of bracket 48 extends sufliciently below the cross arm 41 that the tube 59 may be lowered practically to the'floor or other supporting surface upon which the carriage 25 rides;

When the apparatus is to be used for horizontal radiography the carriage 46 is run up the mast 45, the bracket 48 is rotated 180 from the posi tion shown in Fig. 1 and the screen 49 is either removed or turned about the pivot 95 until it is out of the way. With this position of the parts the tube 50 may be placed high above the patient because the offset of bracket 48 relative to arm 41 gives this additional height above the top of the mast 45. If it is desired to traverse the equipment lengthwise of the casters 26 may be locked by the bolts 39 and the equipment may be moved in a line parallel to the length of the patients body. At the same time the transverse movement made possible by the cross arm 41 permits traversing of the equipment in a direction at right angles to the patients body.

If it is desired to lock the carriage 25 in any special position, the brake, indicated in Fig. 14 may be provided for this purpose. This brake comprises a shoe I32 carried on a spring arm I33 adjacent one of the wheels 21 and preferably the equipment is duplicated on the twosides of the carriage. An arm I34 passes through a slotted opening in a rotatable shaft I35. This arm carries a nose I34a adapted to engage the spring arm I33 so that when the arm I34 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 14, the

.- against the wheel.

' described may be packed '55 the body of a patient nose I34a willengage and hold the shoe I32 the" partswhich have just been I, g V in achest having inside dimensions of /4 width,-'28 length and 14 height. .At the bottom of the chest may be packed the top mast section, the two center mast sections or tubularmembers and the folding draw A number of bolts. In a layer just abovefthis may be packed the carriageli and on the top layer of the chest may be packed thebottom mast section with t cross. semi supporting carr qs tien thereon, together ;with the cross arm itself, the cable supports andgthje radiation cone. In setting up this portion of the apparatus the lower section of the mast is easily assembled into its supporting casting after which-the center and top mast sections are assembled and clamped together by means of the folding draw bolts BI. The assembly of the cross arm in the carriage 46 has already been described. i v

Another chest of the same size above mentioned may have the X-ray tube packedtherein, together with the high tension shockproof cables, a tube motor cable and other small accessories. The control box maybe packed in a chest of the same size along with a main line cable for connecting the control box with the generator as previously mentioned, together wit h a foot switch and timer if desired, a lamp for the for-, eign body localizer, spare-parts and other small accessoryequipment. v

In a fourth chest may be packed the fluoroscopic screen and the bracket 48 and the detachable parts of the foreign body localizer to be later described. Also'thethree track sections of Fig. 4 have approximately the same overall dimensions as the carriage-25 so that theymay be placed in the same size chest as the other parts. The foreign body localizer utilizes a. method diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. .21 to 23. The body of a patient has been indicated in out line at I36 in eachof the diagrams. The fluoroscopic screen 49 is provided witha central cross hair at I31 and side cross hairs at I38 and I39. In the present'instance the distance between the side cross hairs is 22 cm. The distance'from the screen to the tube'target I40 is 66 cm'. Assuming that the'foreign body is located "at the point X, the carriage 25 is moved until the image of the foreign body is located at the central .cross hairs I31 when the target is at the point B. The distance Y from the fluoroscopic screen to the skin of the patient directly above the foreign body may then be measured by use of a skin locator pad best seen in Figs. 2 and 20 to be later described. The carriage 25 is then moved-until the image of the foreign body appears at one of the side cross hairs as at I39, Fig. 22, when the target is at position A. A position is then noted on a measuring dial shown in Fig. 18 and the carriage 25 is then moved until the foreign body image reaches the other side cross hair at I38, Fig. 23, when the target is at the position C. "The movement of the target is proportional to the distance of the foreign body-from the target and by proper calibration of the dial of Fig. l8this depth may be directly read because the distance between the cross hairs I38 and I39 is knownfObviously if the foreign body was substantially. at the target it would take 22 cm. of horizontal target movement to change the positionof the foreign body image from one side cross hair Ztothe other. In other words it would require 22 cm. of horizontal movement to indicate a position of the foreign body 66 cm. "from the 'fluoroscopic screen. The dial of Fig. 18 is calibratedin-this manner into sixty-six'divisions and-preferably from'-0 to-33 around eachhalf of the-dial fora purpose to be later described. In this waythe horizontal movement ofthe carriage necessary to transfer the foreign' body image from one side cross hair-to th otheris directly read upon the dial as measuring'the distance from the-fluoroscopic screen to the foreign body-X. Obviously '10 the selection of the dimensions of'22'cmrand 66 cm. -aremattersof "choice and the dial ofFig. 18 may be calibrated tc-suitany dimensions selected.

The principle of--proportional movement is the ame;in any ca .1 V Mechanism for moving-the carriage 25 during 7 the location of -a-foreign body andmeans for measuring such horizontal -movement is shown most clearly-in Figsw'l, -18-"and 19. A removable bottom section I4 I houses alower shaft member v I42 in suitable bearings;-this shaft-carrying at itsupper end a simple clutch member-I 43.- Pinned to-the lower end-ofthis shaft member is a-gear I 44 in positionto mesh with 'the--rack--I28 on thetrack base. -An extension-|4'laon the bottom section housing encases the gear I44. This bottom section issecured.to-the -carriage 25 when the parts are assembled" by means of a flange -I4Ib which carries a pair of spaced pins I45 adapted to-enter-suitable openings inthe top'of carriage 25. -A-pair-of-thumbscrews145; one on each side of the section I4L ar-e.threaded into the side sheet -member. of themarriage 25. A leafspring I41 engages a shoulder-on each screw 146 and the central portion ofthis leaf spring bears against the vertical plateilflc which forms a portion'of the bottom section; I 4I. It results from this. construction. that: the. gear I 44 is firm- 1y but yieldably. heldinengagementwith the rack I28-when theparts areiasscmbled. An upper section housing I 48 has. a telescoping. engagement over the section I 4| down as far as the flange I4 I b and the upper and lower sectionsare held.,.to-. gether. by the set screwilllll, .Suitably mounted.

in bearings in theuppersectionis an upper. shaft portionz.l50 icarryingrat its;lower .end;a clutch jaw vI5I adapted. to engage; the vclutch jaw I43. A spring I52.yieldably.urges;the shaftI5D down.- wardly when the parts are. intheassembled relationship-of Fig. 19. A set screw 148a manipu 50 latedvby. knob I4,8b willhold shafts I59. andll? and gear I44 infixedposition when it is desired tolock the. carriage 25.,against movement. The knob [50a when turned willturn. thetwo shafts and. the .gear' I44 so as to roll the. gear along the rack I28cthus causingv.-movement.of carria e, 2. relative to the base upon which it. .rests. A d l .I53 and a: pointer hand, I54 are.frictionall held between suitableabutments on the shaft I50 soas to, rotatefltherewith. ,A shallow protecting cup J55 isfixed .to the section housing. I48 and carries a, fixed pointer. I 56.. =In..using the foreign body. localizerthe knob 1150a is usedlto. caus the horizontal movement .of carriage 25 describedin connection with Figs. 21 to 23 .and the movement of dial I53 relative to is recorded during-this horizontal movementsolasato.read. directly on the dialthe vertical distance from the fluoroe scopic screen tothe foreign body X.

For easily determining thedistance Ydescribed 7 in, connection with-Figs. 21 to p23,;we provide a skin locator pad best seenuinzFigs, 2 an 2Q. his pad marked Ii5I iscarried on an arm i 58 w ich is. man pu ated byan assemblvwhich com;-

P esa shell 9,:meunhdianshdable vert ca .75

movement ina'housing IGUJCentrally located in the shell I59 is a rotatably mountedshaft I'6I which carries at its upper end a manipulating knob I 62. Attached to the knob is a locator-pin I63 adapted to engage in either of the openings IE4 or I65. in a plate. I56 which is non-rotatable because of its connection with the shell I59. A spring I6! presses downwardly on shaft IBI and locator pin I63 so as to hold the shaft and the rod I58 either in position below the central cross hairs I37 or in the dot-dashposition indicated in Fig. 2 where it is out of the way. The vertical movement of shell I59 which carries the pad I51 with it is transmitted by means of rack I68 on the shell to a pinion I69'mounted on shaft I10 in the housing I60. This shaft carries a circumferentially arranged dial III which moVes past a fixed pointer I12. This dial I'H is graduated to give a computation inthesame units as are read on the dial I53, that is to say in the present instance centimeters are ,read directl on the dial I'II. The centimeters indicated on this dial are the distance necessary to move the locator pad I31 from the fluoroscopic screen level into contact with the skin of the patient at the point Z, Fig. 21, thus directly indicating the distance Y in centimeters. The rack I58 where it passes through housing I60 acts'as a key to prevent rotation of the she11I59.

An inking pad I5Ia may be supported from the frame of screen 49 as best seen in Fig. 1 in such a position that pad I5'I when moved to the dot-dash position of Fig. 2 will rest upon the inking pad so that when the skin locator pad is again used it will carry ink on its lower surface and mark the skin of the patient.

Obviously if the distance from the fluoroscopic screen to the foreign body X is indicated on the dial I53 and if the distance Y is measured on dial I'II, then the difference between these two figures will give the distancebetween Z and X or the depth; of the foreign .bodybelow the skin of the patient. This may be read directly, that is to say, the subtraction may be performed mechanically with the mechanism here disclosed. For instance, the pointer I54; Fig. 18, is set to one side of the zero line of dial I53 by the num ber of units read on dial Ill. The dial I53 is then set with pointer I54 oppositethe fixed pointer I56 when the parts are in the position of Fig. 22, that is to say, When the imageof the foreign bodyis at oneof the sidecross hairs and before the traversing movement takes place. This traversing movement is thenaccomplished by rotating the knob I50a andthis rotation carries thedial I53 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 18. Thus the first portion of dial rotation subtracts the number of units set off by the pointer I54 and the numberof units finally read off on the lower right-handside of the dial at the pointer I56 when the parts reach the position diagrammed inFig. 28 will read directly the distance from Z to X. I

It will be noted with respect to the parts just discussed for use in foreign body localization tice we prefer to color the two halves of the dial of 'Fig. ,18 different .colors with corresponding colors at differentsides of the-fluoroscopic screen s m lor. 91! e screen, ani a frame- 49 so that the operator starts from the In horizontal radiography when the tube is supported at the upper end of mast 45 and a photographic plate is positioned beneath the patient, the travel of bracket 48 necessary to move the tube 50 short distances as in taking stereoscopic pictures may be measured in centimeters upon the dial of Fig. 18. In other words, this is a direct measurement of the stereoscopic shift.

Another manner of using our improved equipment for foreign body localization is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 24, 25 and 26. Here the localization is carried out by locking the carriage 25 in position and relying solely upon vertical movement of the carriage 46. As in the previously described case, the first step here before locking carriage 25 is to place the bracket 48 represented by a line in Fig. 24 in vertical position with the pivot 410 at the point marked. This places the target of the X-ray tube 50 at the point D and the fluoroscopic screen 49 directly above it. The carriage 25 is manipulated until the image of the foreign body X appears at the central cross hair I31 on the fluoroscopic screen. A marker is then placed at the point Z on the skin of the patient vertically above the foreign body X. This marker may comprise a piece of lead of distinctive shape held on by adhesive plaster. The next step is to tilt the bracket 48 to any convenient angle as shown in full lines in Fig. 25. This angle may be selected so that shadows of bones, etc., do not interfere with the process of localization. The

, central ray of the X-ray tube moving from the target through the marker Z will throw the image of this marker to one side of the cross hair I31. The carriage 46 is then moved vertically until the target reaches the position D where the image of the marker Z is again on the cross hair I31 of the screen 49 in the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 25. The position of a pointer on carriage 46 is then noted at the point Z on a scale 180 which may be mounted in any convenient position. For instance, as shown in Fig. 27 it may be mounted upon one of the tubes of mast 45 in such a manner as to be adjustable if desired so that a zero point may be brought to the position Z and dimensions thereafter read directly. The next step in localization is to move carriage 46 downwardly carrying the tube target to the position D" as indicated in Fig. 26 where the image of the foreign body X appears at the central cross hair I31 of the screen 49. The position of the same pointer on carriage -46 will then be noted atthe point X on the scale I80 and the diflerence between these two points X and Z is the distance of the foreign body X below the marker Z in the body of the patient. It will be noted that it is immaterial where on the bracket 48 or carriage 46 one takes his reference point for marking on the vertical scale because all of these parts move by an amount equal to the distance Z'-X. Our improved apparatus therefore may be used in either of two easily understandable manners to determine directly the distance of a foreign body below a point on the skin of the patient examined.

What we claim is: l

1. In X-ray apparatus for locating a foreign body, a carriage movable along a surface, a bracket adjustably mounted on said carriage, an X-ray tube and a fluoroscopic screen mounted on said bracket in fixed relation to each other and screen of a foreign body in fixed position between said tube and screen to move from one of said indications to the other, and means for indicating the amount of such movement of said moving means.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said indicating means is calibrated to read in terms of measuring units from said screen to a foreign body when said image on said screen is moved from one of said indications to the other,

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said indicating means is calibrated in two directions so that the rays of said tube are directed toward said screen, there being indicia on said screen,

from a zero point to read in terms of measuring units from said screen to a foreign body when said image on said screen is moved from one of said indications to the other, together with means for adjustably setting said indicating means before said moving means is actuated to so move said image across said screen, whereby the distance in measuring units from said screen to the skin of a patient may be set off on one side of said zero point after which said moving means may be operated in a direction to cause indication of said image movement on the other side of said zero point, so that the distance from the screen to the skin of the patient is mechanically subtracted on said indicating means,

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said indicating means is calibrated to read in terms of measuring units from said screen to a foreign body when said image on'said screen is moved from one of said indications to the other, a skin locator pad movable in line with said X-rays and at right angles to said screen, and means for indicating the amount of said movement in the same measuring units.

6. In X-ray apparatus, a base carriage, means mounting on said carriage an X-ray tube and a fluoroscopic screen in fixed relation to each other so that the rays of said tube are directed toward said screen, spaced indications on said screen, a track on which said carriage moves, a rack rigidly connected to said track, a gear rotatably journalled in said carriage in position to engage said rack, means forrotating said gear to thereby move said carriage, and means for indicating the amount of rotation of said gear.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said indicating means comprises a dial, and a frictional driving connection between said rotating means and said dial.

8. In X-ray apparatus for locating a foreign body in a patient, a fluoroscopic screen adapted to be positioned on one side of the patient and to receive the shadow of the foreign body cast by X-rays passing through the patient, a skin locator pad carried by said screen and movable between said screen and patient, and means for indicating the'amount of said movement of the pad relative to the screen.

EDWIN R. GOLDFIELD. RALPH c. SCI-HRING. ROBERT J. STAVA, Y 

